A PLAN to demolish an eyesore on Stalybridge’s landscape and replace it with flats has been described as a vital part of the town’s regeneration, even though proposals were branded ‘ugly.’
Housing group Watson Homes has been given permission to demolish the former police station, on Corporation Street, and replace it with 24 apartments.
However, cross party councillors Doreen Dickinson and Betty Affleck both said what was designed for the site is ‘ugly.’
Those behind the scheme, though, insisted it is an important part of reinvigorating Stalybridge and revealed to The Correspondent when they hope people will be living there.
Rob Watson, director at Watson Homes, said: “The police station in Stalybridge has been out of use since its closure in 2005 and over the years, time has taken its toll on the building.

“The Stalybridge area is undergoing considerable investment and we are pleased to have the approval to bring the police station back to life and be part of the regeneration within the Tameside area.
“We are scheduled to create 24 homes for supported living on the site, addressing the need for homes within the town.
“Watson Homes will have further updates on progress, once the build is underway.
“Demolition of the current building is due to start in August and completion is scheduled for September 2024.”
The state of the former police station, which has laid as a shell after initial clearance work was done, has long been a contentious issue.

Now it will now be replaced with a four-storey building featuring 24 one and two-bedroom flats for a specialist supported living scheme, with priority given to current or former members of the armed forces, which includes a dedicated care 24 hour care team.
Development manager Melanie Hale told councillors at a meeting of the authority’s Speakers Panel (Planning) committee the design is ‘relatively simple’ with red-facing brick but was designed to reflect the style of a mill building.
“It presents an opportunity to redevelop a building that’s detrimental to the character and appearance of the area, to improve the vitality and viability of the town centre, as well as increasing the supply of housing in the borough,” she added.
Conservative Councillor Doreen Dickinson, however, said: “The report keeps saying simple, it means cheap.
“It’s a box with windows in. I think Stalybridge deserves better than that. I really do.
“It’s trying to replicate the mills of old Stalybridge but mills were built on the cheap for quick employment to get cotton out.
“I can’t wait to see this site developed, it’s been an eyesore for absolutely years but I do think we deserve better and I can’t accept this design.”

Labour’s Cllr Affleck added: “I know it’s not nice right now and that station is an eyesore but when that building came up on screen, I thought it was ugly.
“I don’t think it fits in with Stalybridge.”
Ms Hale suggested she would go back to Watson Homes and speak to them about the design, if this was supported by councillors.
However, Cllr Vincent Ricci said it was ‘easy to have a go’ at the design, but it was an improvement on what is on the land at present.
Why will it take two years to build
I was born and bred in Stalybridge and am very passionate about my town, t they are replacing an old police station with a building that looks like a prison, I agree with the councilors that it does not fit in with Stalybridge, it’s ugly. Why are the residents of Stalybridge not allowed to have an opinion of what is built in our town?
I totally agree with you
The council have used no imagination regards the design of the replacement building
This could have been such a good development
In 20 to 30 yrs it will be as big an eyesore as the derelict police station
I have an affinity with the police station as it was where I started my police service in the mid seventies and I worked there on and off for thirty years
A lot more could have been done on the site and I despair at the atrocity which is going to replace it
I agree that this is not a pretty sight. Was an architect involved in the design?